Use of the word ma'am

[Anonymous]

I hate it. It sounds too folksy, and for some reason, also sounds like slang to me (maybe the apostrophe?). I would much prefer madam. Thankfully, I rarely hear it.

[Anonymous]

Southern/military influences are a BIG turn off to some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 male and I still use it in certain situations, such as when a lady accidentally drops something on the street and I have to yell to get her attention. In that situation, "hey you in the red sweater!" seems rude. "Excuse me, ma'am, did you drop this?" is polite.

This is the only time I use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 male and I still use it in certain situations, such as when a lady accidentally drops something on the street and I have to yell to get her attention. In that situation, "hey you in the red sweater!" seems rude. "Excuse me, ma'am, did you drop this?" is polite.

This is the only time I use it.

Yo' momma suffices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both. It makes me feel old (I'm 43) and I take it as a sign of respect.

Same.

It doesn't make me feel old and it is a sign of respect. My children were taught to say "yes, ma'am and yes, sir," to all adults as well as to address adults as Mrs., Mr. or Miss or Mr. , as this, also, is a sign of respect.

[Anonymous]

I'm from NJ and when I first came to DC (at 22) I got called ma'am and nearly fell over in shock. First pretty much no one I ever heard used ma'am in NJ for anyone, and then also because I couldn't believe I was old enough to get a ma'am. FWIW, I remember when I was 18 and someone with a toddler told their child to move to the nice Lady could get by. I didn't know I was old enough to be a "lady" yet either. I think it took me awhile to realize I was growing up!!!

[Anonymous]

Are people who say "It makes me feel old" implying "And I don't want to feel old, because old is bad"?

It makes me feel respected. I don't like being called "Miss." It's not flattering that you're pretending you think I'm in high school.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the south and say it all the time to women who are both older and younger than me (I am 37.) To me it is a sign of respect, not age.

I rarely get it in return - which I attribute more to manners than my age.

[Anonymous]

I"t doesn't make me feel old and it is a sign of respect. My children were taught to say "yes, ma'am and yes, sir," to all adults as well as to address adults as Mrs., Mr. or Miss or Mr. , as this, also, is a sign of respect. "

Eeeeeew.

[Anonymous]

It's sad that advanced age, like weight, is so maligned that it's an insult to be considered old or fat. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's sad that advanced age, like weight, is so maligned that it's an insult to be considered old or fat. It is what it is.

Ok, I really tried to hold back on this one, because it seems like its a hopeless battle. BUT I just can't help myself. Those two are NOT the same. You can't help getting older and older is not bad. You CAN help getting fat and fat is a health risk. You could argue that age is also a health risk, but its one you can't do a thing about. I could go on and on and on...but I will stop here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's sad that advanced age, like weight, is so maligned that it's an insult to be considered old or fat. It is what it is.

Ok, I really tried to hold back on this one, because it seems like its a hopeless battle. BUT I just can't help myself. Those two are NOT the same. You can't help getting older and older is not bad. You CAN help getting fat and fat is a health risk. You could argue that age is also a health risk, but its one you can't do a thing about. I could go on and on and on...but I will stop here.

I didn't imply that you can't help being fat. I was more addressing the fact that people are so opposed to being called what they are. Forty year olds freak out at the thought of being referred to as middle aged. People who are overweight or obese bristle at being described as fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Southern/military influences are a BIG turn off to some people.

Yes, whenever I hear the word ma'am, I think that the person is either very uneducated, or from the South, or both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southern/military influences are a BIG turn off to some people.

Yes, whenever I hear the word ma'am, I think that the person is either very uneducated, or from the South, or both.

How sad. My sympathies for your ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Yes, whenever I hear the word ma'am, I think that the person is either very uneducated, or from the South, or both.

Or addressing the Queen of England.